Combination storage cabinet and drafting board



July 28, 1959 L. A. FICARELLA 2,

COMBINATION STORAGE CABINET AND DRAF TING BOARD Filed Dad. 13. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f LEO A FlCAREL-LA July 28, 1959 A. FICARELLA 2,89

COMBINATION STORAGE CABINET AND DRAFTING BOARD Filed D60. 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

F z t E 32 4 INVENTOR. Leo A.F\ :AREL.\ A

y 28, 1959 L. A. FICARELLA 2,897,030

COMBINATION STORAGE CABINET AND DRAFTING BOARD Filed Dec. 13, 1957 v '5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. LEo AFmmzeLLA FIG. 8 BY R a W N ga 6 United States Patent COMBINATION STORAGE CABINET AND DRAFTING BOARD Leo A. Ficarella, Joliet, D]. Application December 13, 1957, Serial No. 702,741

1 Claim. (Cl. '311-1'6.5)

(Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates generally to supports of the cabinet structure type and more particularly to a combination storage cabinet and drafting board.

In many ofiices, space for oifice furniture of special types is at a premium. This problem becomes acute when the specialty items are essential to over-all opera tions, but only for part-time use. Especially, experience has shown, is this true in connection with drafting board.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide-a combination storage cabinet and drafting board 'which is compact using a minimum of floor space and can be placed flush against a Wall, which will provide storage space for supplies such as paper, blueprints, drafting instruments, inks and other equipment essential to ofiice operation, and wherein the closure for the wall-type storage cabinet can be moved from its closed vertical position to project forwardly from the cabinet at such a distance from the floor as will enable the closure to function as a drafting board or table.

In addition, the present invention also envisions the use of the ordinary small ,ofiice desk as a support for the drafting board when the desk is manually placed under the forward end of the board in its lowered or horizontal position. Thus, it is possible to further utilize existing oflice furniture in connection with the present invention thereby saving the cost of additional furniture and at the same time conserving valuable floor space. When the drafting board is folded, the user again has full access to his desk. Optionally, support members can be provided adapted to be folded adjacent the board when the drafting board is stored and to be automatically unfolded into a position normal to the drafting board when the latter is moved to its horizontal or working position. The retraction of the support members is also to be accomplished automatically as the drafting board is again moved into its stored position where it serves as a closure for a storage area.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for holding the drafting board in its inactive or stored position and also provide a resistance to the movement of the board from its inactive to its active or operational horizontal position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a study of the following detailed description, forming the specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the form of the combination storage cabinet and drafting board constructed according to this invention with the board in its stored or inactive position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but looking from the opposite side thereof and showing the drafting board in its lowered or active position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken sub.- stantially along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

2,897,030. Patented July 28, 1959 "ice Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view, shown fragmentarily, and taken substantially along line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 66 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another form of the invention, fragmentarily showing the wall against which this modified form may be placed, and with the board in its folded or stored position;

Figure 8 is a partial side elevational view of the form of Figure 7 showing the drafting board in its operative or lowered position;

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure-7; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 1010 of Figure 8.

With continued reference to the drawings, there is shown in the form of the invention of Figures 1-6, a base cabinet, generally indicated at 10, having a pair of spaced storage pedestals 12, preferably made as a part of the entire base cabinet structure. Each of the pedestals 12 is provided with a hinged door 18 to permit access into the interior for storage of materials and equipment. A backwall 20 extends completely across the rear of the cabinet from the lower edge of the pedestals to the top 14. A pair of spaced parallel vertical grooves 22 are provided in the back-wall 20 to open through the top 14. Thus grooves 22 extend for the entire height of the backwall from bottom-to top for purposes which will presently appear. I

A frame, generally indicated at 24, forms the generally rectangular outline for the wall type cabinet used in conjunction with the base cabinet. The frame 24 includes a pair of upstanding, hollow posts 26 of generally rectangular form, a top cross brace 28 extending across and secured to the tops of the posts 26, an upper hollow cross piece 30 extending between the post immediately below the top brace 28 to define the top of the storage area formed between the posts 26. This storage area extends from the cross piece 30 to a lower cross piece 32 with the area closed at the back by a flat sheet panel 34. Various shelves, compartments and removable paper roll holder rods are incorporated into the storage area for use in the usual manner.

Posts 26 are snugly received in respective generally U- shaped grooves 22 so that no position of the posts project beyond the backwall 20 with the lower cross piece 32 resting upon the top 14 of the base cabinet and extending along the rear edge thereof (Figures 1 and 6). With the posts extending through the grooves to adjacent the bottom of the cabinet, the cabinet and frame 24 can be placed flush against a wall since there will be nothing projecting from the back of the base cabinet.

A generally rectangular drafting board 36 is mounted along its rear edge 38 on the cabinet top 14, as by piano hinge 39 disposes in a suitably formed recess along the rear edge of top 14, for movement in a vertical arcuate path about the horizontal axis, provided by the hinge 39, between the posts 26 from the inactive or stored position of Figure 1 to the active position of Figure 2 to be horizontally disposed normal to the axis of the posts 26 and resting upon the upper surface of the top 14. -When in the vertical inactive position, the drafting board 36 defines a closure or door for the front of the frame 24.

The posts 26 carry along adjacent faces outwardly projecting guide strips 40. Each side edge 44 of the of. r snee ve s i st ip 40 as h heard. s nq into its stored position. A hook eye 46 is carried by each head portion 42 for a purpose which will hereinafter QPP F- Suspended weights 48;, one disposedw ithin each-pos 26, are operatively connected, to the, hook eyes 4,6, to provide means resistingthe movement of the boagd 3.6. to its active horizontal position and also to maintain the, dra board in ts st red or n c iv po iti n h cifically, each Weight 48 is suspended from one end of asash cord 50 in a post 2 6 so that the hollow, postdefii a weight closet. The cord 50 in eachweight closet is trained about a pull y eel 52 rot table suppo ed a bracket 54 secured to and dependingfrorn thetQn cross brace 28. Cor 50 h ex e d downwa d an e er a ot e p y wh e 5 in rnele n a shett 5 ecured at opposite ends in the sidewalls of the post or weight closet 26 a d. th nt t he eig t clo et throu h an pe ing 60 to have its other end detachably securedto the adjacent eye hook 46 Thus, it will be seen that when it is desired to rngve the drafting board 36 r m ts s oiedr s ti n to i s act p it i movement ill e r i d. by he we ht 8 whi h w ll e as h ard is w red. T is will a ford asmoothness of. perat on When. the board; 36. is. in. e perative horizontal po t on of. Figure the l p 2, a th nd of c 50- r tnc e rom he end. secu ed aeeaosn t th w ig s de a he r m h ey hook 46 on the e d n ac d to a e p ctiv eyehn s 4 car ied y e outside of h p s a jac n he ba e. cab net. ten ,4. as c e y hown in. F gu es 2, 4 and In ng he board 36 to its inactive or stored po ition igure he clip 64 is once ain a tachim to. the eye. heels 46 on the board so he Weigh s will lower as. thehoa d is moved in its arcuate path to assist in such movement n o intain the oard in he ver ical position o it has reached the limit of its movement toward, the fram 24 to also provide a closure or door for the Storage area defined by the frame and back P3116134.

It. is contemplated that the forward end of the drafting board 36 will be supported upon a desk which will be moved under the board to support the forward portion of the board in the horizontal working position. It will be noted that the height of the base cabinet top 114 is such as to compare with the usual height .of an ofiice desk.

An access door 66 is provided in each of the weight closets or posts 26.

To provide for use of the combination cabinet and drafting board of this invention without the need of an auxiliary support such as a desk for the forward end of the drafting board, support structures, generally indicated at 68 and 70, of identical construction are incorporated into the form of Figures L-6 and defines the form of the invention of Figures 77-10. The support structures are disposed one adjacent an. opposite side of the drafting board. Since structures 68 and 70 are identical in construction and operation, only the support structurn 70 will be described in detail with corresponding elements of the other structure 68 being identified by like reference numerals.

The general structure of the support structure 70 comprises an elongated bar 72 secured by suitable means to the under surface of the drafting board 36 to extend longitudinally and adjacenttone side thereof from adjacent the rear end to a point beyond the midpoint of the longitudinal extent of the board. A pair of similar longitudinally aligned stop blocks 74 and 76 are secured to and depend from the bar 72 at respective ends of the bar, and a spacer block 78 is secured to the undersurface of the board 36 near the forward end thereof and has. its lower fa e in he. sa e pl ne with the lower fac f he stop blocks 74 and 76 and in longitudinal alignment therewith. To the lower faces of the stop blocks 74 and 76 and he raee block, .8 is the o te 9f the bight portion 82 of a Ushaped channel so that parallel flanges 84 of the channel open in a direction away from the block 74, 76, 78 and the channel extends longitudinally of the board 36 from adjacent the forward end to adjacent the rear end.

The space 86 between the bar 72 and the bight portion 82 of the channel and between the stop blocks 74 and defi s a ni ey in ic a. flan ed; te e wheel 88 may ride between the stop blocks. The flanges on the wheel 88 will prevent lateral movement of the wheel since their inner surfaces ride along the outer side edges of t e e nd. h nne s een i ht? 19' A support leg 90 is secured at the end to the inner surface of the bight portion of channel 80' at the forward end thereof y a h n 92 p r in e it! to move. in an arcuate path to be received within the flanges of the channel.

To have the support leg 90 automatically extend and retract as the drafting board is moved from and toits stored position, there is provided leg actuating means which includes the aforementioned roller wheela-88; Hanger bars 94 and 9.6 are dependingly carried one at each end of" the roller wheel axle 98, and are connected at their lower ends to upstanding ears 100. and 102 re: spectively on one leaf of a hinge 104; J The other leaf of the hinge 104 is secured to one end of a connecting bar 106 of hollow construction. The other endlof bar 106 is operatively connected to the lower end of support leg 90 by a double leaf hinge 108. Intermediate. the ends of the connecting bar 106, and preferably below-the midpointas viewed in Figure 8, one leaf of a hinge'llll is secured to, the bar while the other leafof hinge 1- 1'0.is secured to the adjacent end portion of an adjustable guide and positioning bar 112. The other endof the positions ing bar 112 is hingeably attached to a block 114' secured to and projecting inwardly from'the. bottom of. the adjacent post 26. To complete the support legactuating means, the end portion 107 of the connect-ing'bar- 106, remote from the end attached to hinge 108 is secured to the other leaf of the hinge 104.

Thus, as the drafting board 36 is lowered, the roller wheel 88 riding along the guideway 86 will allow the support leg 90, connecting bar 106'and positioning bar 112 to assume their relation to one another as shown in Figure 8 under the operation of the lever arrangement de: scribed which forces leg 90 to assume the positionshown at right angles to the drafting board. As the drafting board is raised, in the manner hereinbefore described, the lever arrangement of the support actuating'means cause the leg 90 and the bar 106 to move toward the channel 80 and the wheel 88 to move in its guideway in the opposite direction so that they will be collapsed "into the channel between the flanges thereof (Figure 9) and the positioning bar 112 will overlie the leg90; andba; 106. This will afford a compact folding support structure for the board 36 and which support structure: will automatically move into and out'ofits folded 'relat-ioh upon a corresponding movement of the drafting board:-

The angle at which the drafting board extendsfrom the posts 26 may be selectively controlled by adjustment of the length of the positioning bar 112 The adjustment means is provided by having the smaller sized portion 116 of bar 112 telescopically received in the larger sized portion 118. At the juncture of the smaller and larger portions 116 and 118, there is provided a pair. of G-shaped securing clamps 120 and 122 surrounding; the bar parts 116 and 118 respectively. The clamps'are of a yyell known type which may be tightened by a screw' passing through and drawing the free ends of the t Thus, as the clamps are loosened portion Pu h d fa t e in p rt on 1. or pu l d t 9 he ef om, n a y even the len th. 5 he 1 sh n d .o len t ened a d elamh ale reg in 1. .1- ened t e ai he d i ed len th Qt{ A -ll sii ll With the shortening of ha r-11 2, the 3,6:

downwardly from the posts 36. Lengthening of bar 112 Will result in an upward incline of the drafting board from the posts.

Since it is contemplated that no desk or other such independent support for the forward end of the table is to be used, it may be desired to eliminate the use of a base cabinet, in which case a piano hinge 124 is carried by a cross piece 126, extending between the posts 26, and secured to the under surface of the board 36 along its rear edge. In the event a base cabinet is used with the form of the invention having the automatically extensible and retractable support structure, then suitably shaped grooves would be milled into the top of the cabinet to receive the channels 80 therein and allow the drafting board to lie flush upon the base cabinet top.

What is claimed is:

In a combination drafting board and cabinet comprising a pair of upstanding hollow posts defining a substantially rectangular form, a pair of cross braces extending across and secured to the tops and bottoms respectively of said posts, an upper hollow cross piece extending between said posts and spaced below said top brace, a lower crosspiece extending between said posts, a back connected to said posts, said upper and lower cross pieces and said back forming a storage compartment, a generally rectangular drafting board hinged along its rearward edge on said lower cross piece for movement in a horizontal axis from an inactive vertical stored position to an active horizontal position normal to said posts, means carried by and within said posts and operatively connected to said board for holding said board in said inactive position, a foldable supporting structure for said drafting board comprising a pair of spaced elongated bars secured, one each to the under surface of said drafting board and extending longitudinally along and being disposed adjacent a side thereof from a point near the rearward end to a point beyond the center of said board, a pair of aligned stop blocks secured to and depending from the respective ends of each said bar, a pair of spacer blocks secured to the under surface of said board adjacent the forward end thereof, their lower faces being in the same plane with the lower faces of said stop blocks and in lengitudinal alignment therewith, an inverted U-shaped chafinel member secured to the lower surfaces of said stop blocks and said spacer blocks to form a guideway between said channel member and said elongated bar, a pair of support legs hinged one each at its forward edge to the inner portion of channel member, means for auto matically extending and retracting said legs as said board is moved from and to its stored position comprising a pair of flanged rollers adapted to ride, one each, on said channel members, a pair of depending hanger bars carried by each roller, 21 pair of connecting bars hinged at one of their ends to the lower end of a said leg and hinged at their other end to a pair of said hanger bars on a said roller, positioning means for said drafting board comprising a first pair of bars, hinged at their outer ends to an intermediate point to said connecting bars, a second pair of hollow bars, hinged at their inner ends to said bottom cross braces, said first pair of bars being telescopically received in said second pair of hollow bars, and means for adjusting the length of telescopic movement of said pairs of bars comprising an adjustable clamp secured on each said first pair of bars and an adjustable clamp being secured on said second pair of bars, said clamps on said first pair of bars adapted to abut said clamps on said second pair of bars to limit said telescopic travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 128,038 Hathaway June 18, 1872 174,404 Atkinson Mar. 6, 1876 446,606 Bentley Feb. 17, 1891 666,810 Lake Jan. 29, 1901 916,763 McKee Mar. 30, 1909 1,655,516 Simpson Jan. 10, 1928 1,675,953 Nichol July 3, 1928 1,765,168 Laursen June 17, 1930 2,203,394 Schieber June 4, 1940 2,254,071 James Aug. 26, 1941 2,634,188 Davis Apr. 7, 1953 

